Planning for School

I know for many of you this is all new.  Each year you go out and buy a list of school supplies, wave goodbye as you put your child on the bus, and then wait for the bus at the end of the day to bring them back.  It has worked well for you and you and your kids have thrived.

But now this is this dumb virus wreaking havoc across the world.  And schools looks a little scarier to some.  I am sorry.

Whatever reason is bringing you to homeschooling, know that we are glad you are here.  And we are here to help you and cheer you on!  We pray you will find in time that it is not as scary as you thought, and maybe even decide that it is a blessing to your family, whether for a year or for forever.

We have been blessed by schooling our 4 kids (two college graduates, one beginning college, and one in 8th grade) for over 23 years.

I tell people all of the time, not every day is easy,

but every day is worth it!

You can do this!  Here's how...

Make the decision and don't look back!- Now is not the time to be wishy washy.  Set your mind to the task and make it happen.  Once you commit, you can let go of the stress of the decision and move forward.

Rally your kids and work together!- Kids look to us for cues on how they should feel.  Let them know this is an exciting adventure, and then make it one!  Together.

Figure out your child's learning style!- Are they hands on learners?  Do they love to read and figure out things on their own?  Do they love being taught by others, or want to snuggle on the couch with you and explore the subjects by reading all day?  Once you find out what makes your child's heart sing when it comes to learning you are ready to choose curriculum.

Register with your state- Or what ever is required where you live.  HSLDA is a good place to start to see what your state requires.  Their membership also provides you with legal protection should you ever need it.

Choose curriculum-  Yes, YOU!  Can you believe it?  YOU can choose what your child learns!  Crazy huh?  Yes, you need to find out what your state requires of homeschoolers, but then you can decide how you teach those subjects and many more.  Start with Math, Reading, Science and History and go from there.  The possibilities are endless and you never know when you will find something that excites the whole family.  Some of the fun things my kids have explored- aviation, geology, sign language, and architecture.

Some places to start looking-

Christian Book Distributors

Local homescholing groups online

Timberdoodle

ABeka

Bob Jones

Easy Peasy

Schoolhouse Teachers

Ebay

Bloggers- two of my favorites-

         My Joy Filled Life

         Ben and Me

Pick a start date and put it on the calendar - Many states require 180 days of learning.  Others want you to "complete" a curriculum.  Again, look at your local laws to make sure you are in compliance.  Then schedule your days on a calendar.  Here are just a few ways-

• Monday- Thursday- Many people do this and hold Fridays for field trips, labs, or just errand day.
• "School" schedule- This is your typical follow what the public schools are doing, holidays and all.  We elected to do this a few times when we had college kids so we could be on break when they were home for holidays.
  
• Year round- Yes, learning does take place all of the time, but these learners really DO school all year, often taking larger chunks of time off for holidays or travel.
• Sabbath school- Do school for 6 weeks and then take a week off.  This allows time to plan your next six week, travel, or just play for a week.

Schedule your day!  "Fail to plan, plan to fail"  Some people, me being one of them, love all things charts and lists.  Others are more free spirited and will go where the wind takes them.  Neither are right or wrong, they are just different.  One person's schedule may be hour by hour, while someone else's may be week by week.  Do what works for you!  Just know, one way or another- things must get done to learn!

Find a tribe, get involved and ask questions!- There have been years in which we have been quite active in co ops and various homeschool classes or groups.  There have been other years that we have existed pretty much on our own.  Each child and family has different needs and at different times.  That is ok.  But as newbie, I encourage you not to go this alone.  Especially if this is not necessarily your heart, but instead a way to get through this whole virus nonsense.  If survival is key- then survive well so you can look back on this year as a blessing, not a curse.

Remember in the end that no one knows your child like you do and no one loves your child like you do!  You can do this, they can do this and you just might find yourself enjoying it more than you thought!

Want to know what I recommend for each age?  I just blogged about it- Homeschooling Favorites for ALL Grades.

Blessings,